Tape cartridge system

ABSTRACT

A tape cartridge player for multichannel endless loop tape cartridges having an automatic tape cartridge lock-in mechanism including a contact arm with a detent pawl at one end thereof, a straight angle magnetic head positioning and channel changing mechanism including a cam and follower operable both manually and automatically, and an automatic shutoff switch mechanism but with an override which permits continuous play. When the cartridge is inserted in the player and the power is turned on, contact arm is moved by solenoid action so that the detent pawl contacts a detent in the cartridge and applies a fixed positive pressure thereto. Upon the completion of one channel of play, the cam is moved to the next channel position and the follower simultaneously moves the magnetic head to the next channel position. As an alternative, the channel changing mechanism may be manually actuated to switch from one channel to the next adjacent channel. After the last channel of recorded information has been played, as the channel changing mechanism is actuated, a wiper attached to the cam actuates a microswitch, which energizes a solenoid to thereby effect an automatic shutoff of the system which simultaneously acts to move the contact arm to its original position, releasing the pressure applied to the cartridge. The override switch when operative inhibits the activation of the shutoff solenoid to permit continuous operation.

United States Patent Szeverenyi, Warren, Pa. {21] Appl. No. 871,787 [22]Filed Oct. 31, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee SylvaniaElectric Products Inc.

Continuation of application Ser. No.

643,681, June 5, 1967, now abandoned.

[54] TAPE CARTRIDGE SYSTEM 2 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 274/4, 179/ 100.2 {51] Int. Cl G1 1b 5/00 [50] Field ofSearch 274/4, 11; 179/100.2, (Z), (CA), (Ml); 242/198, 199, 200

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,485,500 12/1969 Loeschner274/4(B)X 2,670,212 2/1954 Heller et a]. 274/46 3,257,515 6/1966Nakamatsu 179/ 1 00.2 3,279,799 10/ l 966 Proctor 274/ l 1 3,385,5345/1968 Staar 274/4(E) 3,437,762 4/1969 Lear et al... 274/4(B) 2,908,76910/ 1959 Fonda 274/4(A) Primary Examiner-Leonard Forman AssistantExaminer-Dennis A. Dearing Attorneys-Norman J. OMalley, Robert E.Strausser and Cyril A. Krenzer ABSTRACT: A tape cartridge player formultichannel endless loop tape cartridges having an automatic tapecartridge lockin mechanism including a contact arm with a detent pawl atone end thereof, a straight angle magnetic head positioning and channelchanging mechanism including a cam and follower operable both manuallyand automatically, and an auto matic shutoff switch mechanism, butwithan override which permits continuous play. When the cartridge isinserted in the player and the power is turned on, contact arm is movedby solenoid action so that the detent pawl contacts a detent in thecartridge and applies a fixed positive pressure thereto. Upon thecompletion of one channel of play, the cam is moved to the next channelposition and the follower simultaneously moves the magnetic head to thenext channel position. As an alternative, the channel changing mechanismmay be manually actuated to switch from one channel to the next adjacentchannel. After the last channel of recorded information has been played,as the channel changing mechanism is actuated, a wiper attached to thecam actuates a microswitch, which energizes a solenoid to thereby effectan automatic shutoff of the system which simultaneously acts to move thecontact arm to its original position, releasing the pressure applied tothe cartridge. The override switch when operative inhibits theactivation of the shutoff solenoid to permit continuous operation.

TAPE CARTRIDGE SYSTEM CROSS-REFERNCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 643,681, filed Jun. 5, i967, andnow abandoned.

Examples of mechanisms which could be utilized in the present inventionare shown and described in the following copending patent applicationsfiled concurrently herewith and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication: Drive System, Ser. No. 643,683 filed Jun. 5, 1967 and nowaban cloned; Intermittent Drive Mechanism, Ser. No. 643,465 filed Jun.5, 1967 now US. Pat. No. 3,446,086; Channel Selector Mechanism, Ser. No.643,682 filed Jun. 5, 1967 and now abandoned; and Cartridge Lock-in,Release Mechanism, Ser. No. 643,733 filed Jun. 5, 1967 now U.S. Pat. No.3,380,440.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to tape handlingsystems and more particularly to improved multichannel tape cartridgesystems.

Tape recording and reproducing systems have found widespread acceptancein recent years. Especially significant has been the advent of the tapecartridge system which has many features and advantages not evident inthe reel-to-reel systems which require a manual threading of the tapefrom the supply reel through the tape recording/reproducing mechanismsand to the takeup reel. The tape cartridge, whether of the reel-to-reelor endless loop type, obviates the need for any manual threading of thetape and furthermore is relatively compact and easy to store. Also, thecartridge protects the tape from many adverse environmental conditions,which tends to increase the life of the tape.

Most tape cartridges utilize tapes having a number of tracks thereon toprovide a longer playing time per cartridge and thus a more economicalcartridge. For example, there are presently in use two-track, four-trackand eight-track tape cartridges and machines. Where stereophonicrecording is desired, two tracks are required per stereo channel. Thus,for example, an eight-track system provides four stereo channels ofrecording.

While tape cartridge systems have many advantages over prior art tapesystems, they encounter a number of difficulties which were not evidentin the prior art systems, which difficulties at present tend toadversely affect the performance and thus the acceptability of the tapecartridge system. For example, using a multitrack, multichannel systemit has been found more convenient and economical to move the magneticsensor head when changing from one channel to another. In more prior arttape players, the head positioning has been achieved by attaching thehead to a lever arm or a parallel piped mechanism and effecting thechannel changing by pivoting the lever arm or parallel piped mechanismabout a fixed point. The difficulty with these arrangements is that itis inherently impossible to maintain the magnetic head in a fixed planewith respect to the tape, since the head either moves in an are when thelever arm is pivoted, or remains parallel to the tape but moves towardor away from the tape as the parallel piped mechanism is moved from onechannel to another. This results in an unbalance from one channel toanother, an unbalance between the two tracks of the same channel orso-called crosstalk from adjacent channels.

Another difficulty encountered with the prior art cartridge system isthe lack of a satisfactory method of inserting and holding the cartridgein position in the recording and/or reproducing machine. These systemsgenerally use a manual lock-in mechanism which must of necessity have adegree of tolerance to accommodate the inherent variations encounteredin cartridge fabrication. Therefore, as a result of human error orotherwise the cartridge may be poorly positioned in the machine so thatimproper pressure is exerted between the tape and head, or the tape isimproperly aligned with the head, thereby adversely affecting thereproductive quality of the system. In addition, it is found that someof these manual lockin devices require an excessive force to seat thecartridge in the machine. In addition with the machines utilizing amanual lock-in with a shutoff mechanism, a further difiiculty isencountered if the cartridge is not immediately removed from the machinesince the drive capstan continues to exert a pressure on a fixed pointon the drive roller after the machine shuts off. If left in thisposition for any length of time this pressure may deform; the roller sothat the next time the roller becomes activated a bumping or slippingmotion may occur with respect to the tape resulting in a distortion inthe reproduced sound.

Another feature not commonly provided on prior art tape cartridgemachine, but which is considered desirable, is to have the machineautomatically shut off after the last channel has been completed, buthave the capability for a recycling of the machine for continuous play.That is, for example, to provide an override of the automatic machineshutoff.

It is further considered advantageous to have a machine which permitseither automatic or manual channel changing with the provision of avisual device to indicate which of the channels is being played.

Accordingly, it'is an object of the present invention to provide animproved multichannel tape cartridge system which overcomes theforegoing difficulties and deficiencies of prior art systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multichanneltape cartridge system wherein the magnetic head moves in a fixed planeparallel to the tape when changing from one channel to another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the automaticlocking-in of the tape cartridge upon activation of the tape cartridgesystem and the automatic release of the tape cartridge when the systemis deactivated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved multichanneltape cartridge system which automatically shuts off after the lastchannel has been played, but which includes an automatic shutoffoverride capability to permit continuous play.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tape cartridgesystem which provides both automatic and manual channel changingcapabilities and includes a visual indication of the channel beingoperated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, in amultichannel tape cartridge system upon activation of an on-off switch,power is supplied to an automatic locking mechanism operative toposition the cartridge in proper alignment at a predetermined pressurein the unit. At the same time power is applied to the channel indicatingmechanism and to a drive motor which is operative to rotate a drivecapstan which moves the tape past the magnetic sensor head. Upon thecompletion of a channel of play, a metal strip affixed to the tapeprovides a short circuit across a pair of normally open contacts tothereby supply power to a stepping motor which rotates a cam oneposition. The stepping motor may also be activated by closing a normallyopen, manually operated switch. A follower positioned between the camsurface and the magnetic sensor head moves as the cam is rotated toimpart linear motion to the magnetic head, which motion is restrained toa plane parallel to the plane of the tape and moves the head intoposition for the next channel of the tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a pictorial diagrammaticrepresentation of one embodiment of a tape cartridge system according tothe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a better understanding ofthe present invention, together with other and further objects,advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the followingdisclosure and appended claims in connection with the above-describeddrawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a source of operating potential asrepresented by the terminal 11 is connected by means of a normally open,on-ofi' switch 13 to a plurality of distribution terminals, 15, 17, 19,21 and 23. A drive motor 25 has its power leads connected between thedistribution terminal 21 and ground, with the motor shaft 27 connectedto a drive pulley 29. A drive belt 31 provides coupling between thepulley 29 and the drive capstan 33 of the system. The drive capstan ispositioned near the drive roller 35 so that the tape 37 passes betweenthe capstan and the roller.

The cartridge locking mechanism consists of a locking arm 41 secured tothe bottom of a pivotable shaft 43. Positioned adjacent the locking armis a trigger locking mechanism 45 which includes a trigger arm 47 and atrigger actuator 49. The trigger locking mechanism is pivotable about anaxis x-x and a spring tensions means 51 secured to the mechanism tendsto hold it in a predetermined position. Attached to the top portion ofthe pivotable shaft 43 is a contact arm 53 having a detent pawl, one endof which is formed to mate with a detent 55 in the tape cartridge 57.Secured to the pivotable shaft 43 above the locking arm 41 is acartridge lock lever 61. A solenoid activation means 63 positionedadjacent to the lock lever 61 includes a movable member 65 adapted toprovide locking motion to the cartridge lock lever 61. Tensioning means67 connected to the lock lever tend to maintain the lock lever incontact with the movable member 65 of the solenoid activation means 63.One end of the solenoid winding is connected to power distributionterminal 17 and the other end of the winding is connected to groundthrough a normally closed switch 69 mounted on the end of the lock lever61.

The automatic shutoff release mechanism 71 includes a lever arm 73adapted to move about a pivot point 75. Attached to one end of the leverarm 71 are a trigger release arm 77 adapted to move the trigger 47 andan automatic shutoff arm 79 adapted to move the onoff switch 13 to theoff position. A tension member 81 secured to the lever arm 73 operatesto keep the lever arm in a disengaged position. Positioned adjacent theopposite end of the lever arm 73 is a solenoid operated releaseactivation means 83 which includes a movable arm 85 adapted to providethe force to move the lever arm 73 against the force of the tensionmember 81. One end of the solenoid winding is connected through anormally closed switch 87 to power distribution point 19 and the otherend of the solenoid winding is connected through a normally openmicroswitch 89 to ground.

The channel changing, channel indicator portion of the tape cartridgesystem includes a stepping motor 91 having one power lead connected toground and another power lead connected through a normally open,manually operated switch 93 to power distribution terminal 23. Connectedin parallel with the switch 93 are a pair of normally open contacts 95which are positioned to be in contact with the tape 37 in the tapecartridge 57 so that a metal strip 99 affixed to the tape, when passingover the contacts 95, provides a short circuit therebetween. The shaft101 of the motor 91 connects to a drive pulley 103. A drive belt 105provides coupling between the pulley 103 and a second pulley 107attached to one end of a drive shaft 109. Attached to the other end ofthe drive shaft is a rotatable cam 111 with a cammed circumferentialsurface 113 having indexed portions thereof corresponding to the fourchannel positions. A cam follower 115 is positioned between the cammedsurface 113 and the magnetic sensor head 117, the follower beingrestrained to move in a vertical direction as indicated. Connected tothe bottom of the cam is a pin 119 which operates to close themicroswitch 89 as the cam rotates the pin past the microswitch.

Also attached to the bottom of the cam 111 is a wire member 121 adaptedto be connected to the rotatable contact 123 of the indicator switch 125(shown broken away at the upper right-hand corner of the drawing). Acontact 127 of the switch 125 makes a permanent connection between therotatable contact 123 and ground. The four indicator lamps 131, 133, and137 are connected respectively between four fixed contacts 141, 143, and147 and the power distribution terminal 15. A tip 149 on the rotatablecontact 123 provides a connection to ground for one of the indicatorlamps at a time, the respective indicator lamp corresponding to the tapechannel being operated.

In operation the tape cartridge system functions in the followingmanner. Upon closure of the on-off switch 13 power is applied to thedistribution terminals 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23. immediately, indicatorlight 131 turns on and at the same time the drive motor 25 is activatedand operates to provide continuous rotation of the drive capstan.Simultaneously, power is provided to the solenoid actuation means 63forcing the movable member 65 into contact with the cartridge lock lever61 to thereby cause rotation of the pivotable shaft 43. This in turnrotates the detent pawl 53 into the detent 55 of the tape cartridge 57to properly position the cartridge in the system andexerts apredetermined pressure on the cartridge which is transmitted to thedrive roller 35' and drive capstan 33 to thereby provide the necessaryconstant driving pressure to move the tape between the roller andcapstan. As the shaft 43 rotated a proper distance the trigger actuation49 of the trigger locking mechanism 45 drops down to engage the lockingarm 41 preventing any counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 43. Also,as the cartridge lock lever 61 is moved clockwise on the shaft 43, thenormally closed switch 69 opens and deactivates the solenoid actuationmeans 63. This completes the lock-in activation of the tape cartridgesystem so that the system is now in the operating mode.

After the first channel on the tape 37 in the cartridge 57 is completed,the metal strip 99 on the tape shorts out the contacts 95 therebysupplying power to the stepping motor 91 which becomes operative torotate the cam 111 approximately one-quarter turn clockwise asindicated. The rotation of the cam imparts the aforementioned verticalmotion to the follower arm 1 15 which, in turn, brings the magneticsensor head 117 into position for the second channel on the tape. Also,the rotation of the cam turns the movable contact 123 on the indicatorswitch 125 one-quarter turn so that the tip 149 provides a groundconnection to the contact 147 turning on indicator light 137.

The system continues to operate in the foregoing manner, going throughthe second channel switching to the third channel and on to the fourthchannel after completion of the third channel. However, upon completionof the fourth channel, as the contacts 95 short out providing power tothe stepping motor 91 to rotate the cam 111 a quarter of a turn, the pin119 comes into contact with the normally open switch 89 and closes theswitch. This completes the path to ground for the solenoid operatedrelease activation means 83, which becomes operative to force themovable arm 85 against the lever am 73 causing it to pivot about thepoint 75. This in turn brings the trigger release arm 77 into contactwith the trigger 47 to pivot the trigger locking mechanism 45 upwardwhich releases the locking arm 41 from the trigger actuator 49. Thetensioned spring 67 applied force to the cartridge lock lever 61 thenoperates to rotate the pivot shaft 43 counterclockwise, thereby removingthe detent pawl 53 from the detent 55 in the cartridge 57 so that thecartridge is automatically released. At the same time the automaticshutoff arm 79 is brought into contact with the on-off switch 13 movingt from the on position to the off position thereby removing all powerfrom the system.

if it is desired to have continuous operation, rather than automaticshutoff, after completion of the last channel, the normally closedswitch 87 is moved to the open position. This removes the power from thesolenoid operated release activation means 83 so that the motion of thepin 119 against the microswitch 89 has no effect on the system. The cam111 rotates the one-quarter turn, returning the magnetic sensor head 117to the first channel position and the system continues to operate.

To manually change channels, the normally open switch 93 is closed,which provides power to the stepping motor 91. This causes a one-quarterrotation at the cam 111, to bring the head 117 into position for thenext channel. The manual channel changing may beeffec ted at any time,even in the middle of a channel of play.

It will be readily apparent that many different types of mechanisms maybe used to operate in place of the specific mechanisms described in theforegoing embodiment of the invention. Examplesof such mechanisms may befound in the above-mentioned cross-references to related applications.Still other variations and modifications will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art, some of which may be necessitated by particularsystem requirements or design preference.

It can therefore be appreciated that applicants have provided animproved tape cartridge system having significant advantages over priorart systems. The automatic cartridge lockin. release mechanisms assuresproper seating of the cartridge and prevents damage to the cartridge andsystem. The vertical head movement, channel selector provide forimproved hifidelity recording and reproduction by assuring properalignment of the magnetic sensor head with the tape. Also, the manualchannel changing and channel indicator permit rapid, easy selection ofchannels when desired.

While there has been shown and described what is at present consideredthe preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. in a multichannel tape cartridge system including a movable magnetichead and a drive capstan operative to move the tape in a cartridge pastthe magnetic head, the combination comprising:

a power source;

a control circuit for said system;

a first switch operative to connect said power source to said circuitwhereby said circuit is energized;

automatic cartridge lock-in means operative upon activation of saidfirst switch for providing positive pressured placement of a cartridgewhich has been inserted in the system with respect to said magnetic headand said drive capstan, said lock-in means including a contact armhaving a first position not contacting the cartridge when the circuit isnot energized and having a second, positive pressure contact positionwith the cartridge when the circuit is energized;

a channel changing means formedto move said magnetic head from onechannel position to the next channel position by moving said head in afixed plane parallel to the plane of the tape in the region of themagnetic head;

second switching means operative to automatically energize said channelchanging means at the end of each channel; and

third switching means connected to said channel changing means andoperative to activate said first switch upon the completion of the lastof said channels of play to deenergize said circuit by disconnectingsaid power source thereby effecting release of said automatic cartridgelockin means by returning said contact arm to the first position notcontacting the cartridge.

2. The invention of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a wafer switch having a plurality of contacts, one for each channel ofsaid multichannel cartridge;

a like plurality of indicator devices, each connected respectively toone of said plurality of wafer switch contacts; and

means connecting said wafer-switch to said channel changing means tothereby provide an indication of the channel being played.

1. In a multichannel tape cartridge system including a movable magnetichead and a drive capstan operative to move the tape in a cartridge pastthe magnetic head, the combination comprising: a power source; a controlcircuit for said system; a first switch operative to connect said powersource to said circuit whereby said circuit is energized; automaticcartridge lock-in means operative upon activation of said first switchfor providing positive pressured placement of a cartridge which has beeninserted in the system with respect to said magnetic head and said drivecapstan, said lock-in means including a contact arm having a firstposition not contacting the cartridge when the circuit is not energizedand having a second, positive pressure contact position with thecartridge when the circuit is energized; a channel changing means formedto move said magnetic head from one channel position to the next channelposition by moving said head in a fixed plane parallel to the plane ofthe tape in the region of the magnetic head; second switching meansoperative to automatically energize said channel changing means at theend of each channel; and third switching means connected to said channelchanging means and operative to activate said first switch upon thecompletion of the last of said channels of play to deenergize saidcircuit by disconnecting said power source thereby effecting release ofsaid automatic cartridge lock-in means by returning said contact arm tothe first position not contacting the cartridge.
 2. The invention ofclaim 1 additionally comprising: a wafer switch having a plurality ofcontacts, one for each channel of said multichannel cartridge; a likeplurality of indicator devices, each connected respectively to one ofsaid plurality of wafer switch contacts; and means connecting said waferswitch to said channel changing means to thereby provide an indicationof the channel being played.